KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry (MoH) must implement a strict policy against horizontal violence among healthcare professionals, an MP said today, as health authorities faced criticism following the recent death of a junior doctor attached with Penang Hospital.
Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii said it is vital to curb toxic behaviour in high-stress workplaces such as hospitals, where some doctors undergoing their housemanship have claimed bullying by their seniors.
“That is why the hospital management must take responsibility and the Health Ministry must provide a clear explanation and conduct a transparent investigation into the matter to ensure any toxic practices against any of our healthcare workers are curbed,” he said in a statement.
Yii, who chairs the parliamentary special select committee on health, science and innovation, said health authorities cannot dismiss the issue as mere common practice, stressing that prolonged exposure to toxic workplace environments and behaviour are proven to have negative psychological and physical effects on health.
He warned that besides taking a toll on the physical and psychological well-being of healthcare professionals subjected to such abuse, the situation could also lead to a breakdown in communication and collaboration among healthcare workers.
“All these will directly have an impact towards patient care,” he said.
The recent death is believed to be the second involving a junior doctor in Penang. In December 2020, The Vibes reported that a doctor who had resigned from the same hospital had died suddenly.
The latest incident triggered an outcry among medical practitioners. Several doctors, who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue, said bullying in the medical fraternity is a pervasive problem. – The Vibes, May 4, 2022
